First Minister Arlene Foster is to meet with senior PSNI officers after CS spray was used during a junior Orange Order parade.

The Orange Order said the parade was returning from an annual Easter Tuesday event in Carrickfergus when the incident occurred on Tuesday evening.

The police ombudsman confirmed that the spray was used during the parade on the Ormeau Road at about 5.15pm on Tuesday, March 29.

Two officers received minor injuries and damage was also caused to a police motorbike during what the PSNI described as "a minor disturbance".

A man, 26, was charged with two counts of assault on police and one count of disorderly behaviour following "minor disturbance" at the parade.

Mrs Foster said on Twitter that she had spoken with PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton on Tuesday evening about the events on the Ormeau Road and a meeting with senior police would follow.

The parade's organiser Noel Liggett said children suffered swollen eyes and lips as a result of the spray being used.

He told Good Morning Ulster police believed cars were being damaged as the parade made its way up the road, an allegation he described as "completely false".

"Around 20 children were on parade with us yesterday, the average age would be six, seven, eight and nine. Around that age group," he said.

"I was quite shocked to see many young children in a state of shock.

"Five of them had suffered the effect of CS gas and a number of young children in the band had also suffered the effects of the gas."

Mr Liggett said children suffered swollen eyes and lips from the incident.

He added that a "very frank meeting where both sides put their case" was held with police after the parade and that he would "question the common sense" of police.

"The police knew this was a parade for juniors, there was a lot of young children in the area," he said.

Superintendent Darrin Jones told Good Morning Ulster the officer had felt the use of CS spray had been appropriate in the circumstances but the matter had been referred to the ombudsman.

"We have made a referral to the ombudsman and I would appeal for anyone in the band or passersby to come forward to the ombudsman and give a statement or if they want to come and speak to us," he said.

Superintendent Jones said the situation was "over as quickly as it began" and he hoped to speak to band members and community representatives to resolve the issue.

Following the disturbance at the parade, a 26 year old man was arrested and charged with two counts of assault on police and one count of disorderly behaviour.